Article feeding device



Sept. 9, 9 HQE. BALSIGER ET AL 2,609,914

ARTICLE FEEDING DEVICE s sheds-sheet 1 (Iltotneg Sept. 9, 1952 H. E. BALSIGER ET AL 2,609,914

ARTICLE FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 4-, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnventor HAROLD E- BAL$I 7E R 8!! C. WALKER WILLIAMS Gttormeg Sept. 9, 1952 H. E. BALSIGER ET AL ARTICLE FEEDING DEVICE- Filed Dec. 4, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor HAROLD E. 5 AL $165!? c. c. WALKER WIL LIA Ms Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE FEEDING DEVICE Harold E. Balslger and Charles C. W. Williams, Waynesboro, Pa., assignors to Landis Tool Company, Waynesboro, Pa.

Application December 4, 1946, Serial No. 713,954

2 Claims. (01. 198---33) This invention relates to an article feedin device for machine tools, packaging devices et cetera but particularly for centerless grinding machines.

' Article feeding means for through feed grinding on this type of machine are of two general types: (a) gravity, and (b) horizontally operated devices actuated by a weight or by an electric motor. In most of these devices, the work is supplied in small amounts and in proper position for introduction to the point of operation. Where a hopper is used, a very complicated and bulky mechanism is required to control the flow of articles to the mechanism for transferring them in the properposition to the point of operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for vibratingthe hopper.

A further object is to provide means for determining the magnitude of the vibrations.

A further object is to cause the articles in the hopper to be moved continuously in a substantially circular path.

A further object is to provide a vertically posi tioned solenoid for vibrating the hopper.

A further object is to provide a device for removing articles from a hopper in a single line and moving them in an axial direction.

A further object is to provide a device mounted independently of the hopper for conveying articles from the hopper to the point of operation.

A further object is to provide means for vibrating said conveyor and said hopper from a single vibrating device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a feeding device. a

Figure 2 is an end view of the tube supporting structure.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a partial end elevation showing the track on the inside of the hopper.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the hopper.

Figure 6 is an elevation in section of said hopper.

This invention consists of a base member ID having means for supporting a circular hopper I I thereon. Said supporting means consists of a series of resilient members [2 arranged circumferentially about the underside of said hopper and inclined from said base to said hopper in a counter-clockwise direction, or clockwise direction.

The means for vibrating said hopper consists of a solenoid I5 mounted with its axis in a vertical position. The core l6 of said solenoid is in 2 alignment with a pad on the bottom of said hopper and spaced therefrom by" an amount suitable for operation thereof. Current for energizing said solenoid may be obtained from any A. C. source through a switch I1, rectifier l8 and rheostat [9. The rheostat controls the rate of feed by adjusting the magnitude of the vibrations. The rectifier changes the A. C. to a pulsating or intermittent D. C.

The bottom of said hopper H is high at the center and inclines toward the outside. The reason for this is to enable the force of gravity to cooperate with centrifugal force in urging articles l3 toward the wall of the hopper.

An inclined track is provided about the inside wall of said hopper and merging at its lower end into the surface of the bottom of said hopper. Such a track may be cut or molded in the side walls, or it may be formed of sheet metal and attached thereto. Said track extends nearly to the top of said hopper to a point where the wall is cut away to receive a tubular member 35.! leading to a centerless grinding throat formed by abrasive wheels 3! and 32. The width of track 20 is preferably slightly less than the diameter of the work pieces 43 so as to accommodate only a single succession of work pieces. I

Near the end of track 20 and suspended above it on the side of the hopper is an inwardly projecting cam like member 2|. The function of this member is to remove from the track those articles which are moving along in an upright position.

Ahead of member 2| on the track is a hump 22. Occasionally, for various reasons, the movement of articles through tube 3|] is obstructed or there is a tendency to feed faster than the pieces are being ground. In such cases the hump causes the line of articles to buckle and fall back into the hopper. As soon as the ob struction is removed or the rate of feed reduced, the articles will move over the hump without buckling.

A plate welded to tube is removably attached to a block 26. Said block is supported by two parallel flat springs 21 one at each end of block 26. Said springs are mounted on a bracket 28 which in turn is mounted on base I0. An L shaped plate 29 is secured to the underside of block 26 and has a slot to permit adjustment lengthwise of said block. A screw 4| holds said plate in adjusted position. The purpose of the adjustment is to move the base portion of the L into operative relation with the resilient supporting member l2. The vibratory movement aeoacia of said member resulting from the vibration of hopper II is transmitted through plate 29 and block 26 to tube 39. Thus, while said tube is mounted on base l it has no other connection with thehopper except the contact between the support member l2 and plate 29 for transmitting vibration to said tube. The tube and hopper may therefore be vibrated independently of one anothereven though the vibration producing mechanism is common to bot One means for supporting said article feeding device on a machine consists of a bracket E! having a short vertical shaft 5| inserted therein.

An arm 52 having a cylindrical bearingportion at each end is supported by mounting one of said The other bearing .54.

bearings 53 on shaft 5|. consisting of spaced upper and lower portions has inserted therein a second vertical shaft 55 having a screw thread thereon (not shown). nut'fiZ between said upper and lower portions serves to raise, 011 lower the feed mechanism assembly. A base member 56 ismOunted'on shaft 55 member- 51 i s slidably mounted for adjustmentor; base 56. 1 Adjustment of said member. is 'effected'by turningscrew fidfafteif loosening clampingscrewstjd in sl'ots iill and El; Asecond slidable member 65 ismounted on. member 5? and adjustable in a direction perpendicular. to that of said rnember BIJ -This adjustment. is effected by means. of screw 66. Member. 65- is held in adjusted positionby screws El which pass through slots 68 insaid'memb'erl I Base l0 andjtl'i e partsfmounted thereon are nilyeubbjq ee n 5 ib? 91 S'Pfifi i I i Operation 7 Assumingthe hopper. I i tobe filled with blank workpiecesto be fed toa centerless grinder, the solenoid I5 is energizedfby turning switch i'l. Said solenoid exerts an attraction on the bottom of saidhoppe'rin a vertical direction. vIn responding to"thesolenoid the hopper is guided by resilient members. l2. Whensaid hopper moves downwardly attracted. by said solenoid, the vertical movement is modified slightly by the action of the resilient members which, because, of their inclination, add. a horizontal component to the vertical movement. The rectified .A. C. current is known asv pulsating directcurrent and this current causes vibration by'starting and stopping the'fiow of current to saidsolenoid at a frequency depending on the frequency of the A. C. source, While solenoid i6 is momentarily cle energized, the resilient members l2 return hopper Hto itsiniti'al position. The resultant efso that the workpieces move to the: outside.

Those on the outside are caused remove up an inclined track 20 along the wall of the hopper. This track is just wide, enough to hold a single work piece. Most of the pieces move up the track in an axial direction. 7 A few, stand on end and these are returned to the hopper as they pass projecting member 2! which tilts them off of the track.

v as well with a single article as it will with a hopper full.

We claim: 1. A. device for feeding articles including a cyiindrical hopper having side Wall and bottom integral, means for effecting vertical vibration of said, hopper, supporting means for said hopper effective to convert part of said vertical movement to oscillating movement about the axis of hopper whereby to cause said. articlesto move continuouslyin a circumferential.path, and means responsive to saidiinovement forjguiding said articles from the bottom of said hoppeiiim eluding an. inclined track.forinedhnthefinside wall of said hopperiand merging, viithfthebottorn thereof and extendingto a point. of discharge an elevation higher than the articles inthe hopper, said track. serving toLinteroept. individual articles and to oonduetethezn to. saidpoint of discharge, the width'oi said tra being. such as to retain only a single line i ticlesv andto reject thosein a ci'osswi'se'position. i

2 A device for conveying'individualarticles from a miscellaneous arrangementthereof-to a discharge point including an upright cylindrical hopper having side wall" and bottom integral, means 'for efiectinga c'oinbin'ed" vertical andhorizontal vib atieaer said hopper'so as to causeth'e articles to move in a; circular path-therein, a curved track disposed within said'ho ppenand inclined upwardly along the inside wall. thereof and vibrated therewith/said casein-ag ng into the bottom of said hopper for'i'eceivingfsaid articles and arranging them in predetermined alignment for discharge from the hopper; said track being open at the inside thereofandbi a width to'retain only. a single line of. articles thereon, vibration of saidtrack' causing said are ticles to move along the same to"thefdiscliarge point. a

HAROLD CHARLES o. w. w LLIAMS.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED srarss A'r-Errrs Great Britain Get. 15,, 1,927 

